Tooth brush



1937. J. J. PETTA 2,091,716

TOOTH BRUSH Filed April 1, 1936 Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATESPATENT orrica TOOTH BRUSH John J. Petta, Chicago, Ill. Application April1, 1936, Serial No. 72,091

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tooth brushes and has specialreference to a construction which will permit the positioning of thehandle of the brush in different relations to the brush proper.

The object of the invention is to provide a tooth brush so constructedthat the brush can be readily arranged to present the bristles of thebrush normally to the interior surfaces of the teeth, that is with thebristles projecting toward the handle, or it can be arranged similarlyto the usual form of tooth brush with the bristles projecting out fromone side of the handle.

The invention comprises a brush head and a 5 handle, and the two soconnected and mutually cooperative that the brush can be readilyarranged in a position when the head is in effect an extension of thehandle and the bristles project from one side, or the head can bearranged across the handle with the bristles projecting toward thehandle, and means for latching or looking the two parts in eitherrelative position as desired.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing forming part of this specification and in which:--

Fig. l is a face view of a tooth brush embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a side view thereof;

Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawing, my improved tooth brush comprises a head orbristle carrying memher l0 and a handle member II.

The head I0 is pivotally mounted on one end of the handle member toswing from one relative position as shown in Fig. 1, when the brushsimulates an ordinary tooth brush, to a second position, as shown inFig. 3, when the head It! is arranged extending across the handle withthe bristles l2 projecting toward the handle H.

The handle is preferably made of a small tube l3, at the end carryingthe head l0, and the outer end of the tube [3 is secured in an outerhandle part I4 which is shaped approximately like the usual tooth brushhandle, that is relatively Wide and flat.

The handle part I4 is hollow, that is, it is provided with alongitudinal hole M in line with the tube 13, and a control rod l5extends through the handle II, that is, through the part I4 and I thetube 13, and projects from the handle at each end.

The handle sectional view taken on l l is pivotally mounted at its innerend to the head It) at a point substantially mid- Way between the endsof the head on a pivot pin I6 which extends transversely through thehead. The inner end of the tubular part l3 of the handle is enlarged onits side toward the brush head as shown at IT, so that it can beprovided with an opening to receive the pivot pin I6 without interferingwith the rod I5.

The head H3 is provided with a longitudinal groove is extending from oneend to the midpoint to receive the tube i3 when the head is arrangedextending longitudinally of the handle l I.

The inner end I!) of the rod l5 projects from the inner end of the tubeit past the pivotal point and the head is provided with two holes 20 and2| receiving this projecting end and locking the head in its twopositions.

The hole 28 extends in line with the rod l5 when the head extendslongitudinally of the handle and the hole 2! extends in line with therod 15 when the head is swung to its other position, that is to aposition at right angles to the handle.

The rod I5 is yieldingly held at the inner limit of its movement in thehandle by a spring 22 within the hollow handle. The rod is provided witha rigid shoulder 23 against which the inner end of the spring pressesand the outer end of the central opening in the handle is closed by aplug 24 against which the outer end of the spring presses.

The outer end of the rod I5 is provided with an enlargement 25 so thatit can be grasped and pulled out to free the head Ill from the inner endof the rod and permit the head to be swung from one position to theother.

The construction is very simple, cheap and strong and the head canreadily be arranged with the bristles projecting toward the handle foroperation upon the inner surfaces of the teeth, especially the frontteeth, and can as readily be arranged to project the bristles from oneside, like an ordinary tooth brush, and the head is held firmly in bothpositions.

As many modifications of the invention will readily suggest themselvesto one skilled in the art, I do not limit or confine the invention tothe specific details of construction except within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A brush comprising a brush head having bristles projecting from oneface thereof, said face being provided with a central groove extendingfrom one end to the center thereof; a handle pivotally mounted at thecenter of said notches in said head to receive the protruding end ofsaid rod to lock said handle in either of its adjusted positions.

3. In a tooth brush, a brush head having bristles projecting from oneface thereof, a handie pivotally mounted substantially at the center ofsaid face and movable to project longitudinally of the head or at aright angle to the head from said face and spring pressed releasablemeans for locking the handle in either of its two positions. 10

JOHN J. PET'I'A.

